Clothespin



April 4, 1939.

H. Kl SCHULTZ ET AL CLOTHESPIN Filed Sept. l0, 1957 SWW/M3046 PatentedApr. 4, 1939 PATENT OFFlCE CLOTHESPIN Harold K. Schultz, Brooklyn, andWilliam F. Speagle, Berea, Ohio Application September 10, 1937, SerialNo. 163,288

2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in clothespins.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved form ofclothespin which is capable of very tightly clamping clothes to a lineby means of a double clamping action.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clothespin which issuitably shaped from a single strip of spring steel and is capable ofclamping cloth-es about a line at one point and clamping the folds ofthe clothes together at a point below the line.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description,

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specication and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout Ithesame:

Figure 1 is an edge or side elevational view of the clothespin embodyingthis invention and illustrated in position to clamp clothes on a line;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view taken at right angles to Figure 1;and

Figure 3 is a horizontal transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 ofFigure 1.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown thepreferred embodiment of this invention, the reference character 5designates a section of a clothesline upon which the piece of clothingis to be secured by means of the clothespin which is designated in itsentirety by the reference character 1.

The clothespin embodying this invention is formed from a strip or ribbonof spring steel of suitable width and gauge. This strip or ribbon isfolded upon itself at 8 to provide the spaced converging arms 9. Thesearms 9 form the inner portions of the two sides of the clothespin body.One side is bent at I0, or at the outer end of the arm 9, to provide alaterally offset, rearwardly directed fold I I which is of substantiallyinverted U-shape. The opposite arms of this fold diverge downwardly, asbest illustrated in Figure 1. The 45 remaining arm 9 is bent laterallyinwardly at I2 to provide an arm or branch I3 which underlies the mouthor entrance to the fold II. Leg portions' I4 are formed at the ends ofthe two| sid-es of the body. Between the branch I3 and its leg III, andangle I5 is provided and is Ypositioned to underlie the clothesline 5,as best illustrated in Figure 1. The legs I4 terminate in laterallyflared extremities I6 which are rounded at their corners I1.

As this clothespin is formed of spring steel, its use in frosty, coldwinter weather would have a tendency to cause the users iingers to stickto the same. For that reason, the outside surfaces of the strip orribbon are provided with a relatively thin coating or" rubber or latex,as illustrated in exaggerated section in Figure 3 and identified by thereference character I6.

In applying the clothespin to clothes positioned 5 upon a line, the pinis forced down over the clothing and line until the line with itssurrounding portion of clothes is received in the inverted U- shapedfold Il. Due to the upwardly converging arrangement of the sides of thisfold, the line 10 and clothes are wedged and tightly clamped together.This wedging action spreads the sides of the fold or places the foldunder tension. Due to the positioning of the legs I4, they will clampthe material 6 at a zone beneath the line 5. This 16 clamping actionresults from placing the upper fold 8 under tension when the pin isforced down over the line. It will be appreciated, therefore, that theclamping of the clothes to the line results from tensioning the fold II, and the clamping of 20 the clothes at a regio-n or zone below theline results from tensioning the fold 8. It has been determined that theangle I5, formed between the branch I3 and the leg I4, very effectivelycooperates with the opposed leg I4 for the other side of 25 the pin togrip the clothing about the line. This angle I5 also tends to moretightly grip the clothing when the wind blows.

It is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shownand described 1s to be 30 taken as a preferred example of the same andthat various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, we claim:

1. A clothespin of the. type ldescribed comprising a strip of springsteel formed with two sides arranged in opposed relation, one of saidsides having therein a laterally oiset rearwardly directed fold ofsubstantially inverted U shape, a portion of the other of said sidesbeing offset to underlie the entrance to said rearwardly directed fold,and said sides terminating in closely spaced parallel legs havingoutwardly flared ends.

2. A clothespin of the type described comprising a strip of spring steelformed with two sides arranged in opposed relation, one of said sideshaving therein a laterally offset rearwardly directed fold ofsubstantially inverted U shape, a Vportion of the other of said sidesbeing offset to underlie the entrance to said rearwardly directed fold,and said sides terminating in closely spaced parallel legs havingoutwardly flared ends and a thin coating of rubber applied to theoutside surface of said strip.

HAROLD K. SCHUL-TZ. WILLIAM F. SPEAGLE.

